Sled brake



' March 14, 1933.

Gv. w. JOHNSTON ET A1. 1,901,302

SLED BRAKE Filed July 20, 1951 J ATToRNEYs,

INVENToRs,

Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNIrlsrn ASTATES Ar' GEORGE W. JoHNSreiv Ann sAivruErJ lanci-min,

recien fr. oFFicE.

or sr. JOSEPH, MISSOURI; SAIn JOHNSTON AssreNoE To SAID MU'cnNIK j SLED BRAKE `This invention relates to braking apparatus for sleds and has for a primary object, provision of effective,` strong, durable and neat appearing bra-ke system which may be SiV built into a sled as the Same is manufactured without altering the same and with but very A yet further object of the present invention is to providev braking apparatus vfor sleds which maybe operatedby either or both of the hands or feet of the rider; means being provided for yieldably maintaining the grippers of the brake apparatus inan inoperative position. A still further object of this inventionis to provide brake apparatus for sleds known to the trade as Flexible Flyers; such sleds having a platformprovided with a laterally extending neck to each side of which is projected operating handles for moving the brakeparts to the'operative position.

Minor objects of this invention will appear during the course of the detailed'specilications, wherein ti e preferred embodiment ofthe same is set forth; such form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a equipped with braking apparatus A'con- Structed in accordance with this.invention.k

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the Same. e Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, central, cross section takeny vertically throughthe Sled as illustrated in Fig. 1.

side elevation of a sled Fig. '4 is a vertical cross section along linev Application sied VJuly zo, 193i.v Serial No. 551,870.

taken IV--IV of Fig.v 1. i

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the bed of the Sled, takenv on line V-V of Fig. 2,

and orV applied to apreviouslyconstructed sled i rig. e is `a modified form of the inventionV illustrating a different mannery of joining the connecting lrod and grippers.

Referring to thepreferredform of the invention as Shown'in Figs. `1 to 5 inclusives and employing like referencecharacters to designate several views f 8 similar parts throughout these indicates theV two parallel runners ofthe well known type of sled ,y

which is a supported ners 8 by lso provided with a platform -10 in an elevated position above runstandards v12 to provide a space between platform 10 and the bottomfof runners .8 sucient to the braking appathis invention.

. .The platform 10 of this type of sled pre-l sentsa longitudinally andiforwardly extending neck 14, narrower than bed 10 and joined ner well known Movement aboutk pin bends runners 8 to ment of Vthe sled in in the sled` making art. part ofy guide bar 16 is such movement fleXes or direct the forward movethe desired direction.

on the 22 and The space between the sides of neck 14 and runners 8 permits of easy access to the hereinafter described ,o eratino' D which are handles positioned at this point as a matter ofextreme convenience to the operator of the Sled.

With particular reference at this time to the brake Structure itself, the same includes a and journaled in beneath vplatform sled. Sha

transverse Shaft 24;.ofl'set as at 26, bearings 28 rigidly secured 10 near therear end of the -ft 24 extends beyond the Sides of platform 10 where a foot pedal 30 is securedin lrigid r elation sovthat pressureon foot unobstructedly receive y the component parts of ratus contemplated by might be readily engaged by the foot of the sled rider. In addition tothe means for moving grippers 32 to the operative positionjby the foot, hand engaging handles 36 are f presented adjacent the forward end of the sled and near enough to guide bar 16 where they may be engaged simultaneously with guide bar 16 without the rider shifting his position.

As before set down, neck 14 is comparatively narrow and it is the space between Y neck 14 and runners 8 that is occupied by handles 36, each of which is Vpivotally pinned as at 38 to neck 14 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Handles 36 overlap above and below respectively, the forward end of a ylongitudinal connecting rod 40, disposed along beneath platform as shown in Fig. 3 to engage offset 26 of shaft 24. A pintle 42 establishes operative connection between rod and handles 36, and a bracket 44 attached to the under side of platform 10, slidably supports rod 40. Referring to Fig.2, it will be noted that lower lever 36 has a projection extending diametrically opposite therefrom which is adapted to be utilized as a handle which, when moved forwardly, will cause the grippers to be moved downwardly to the operating position.

The entire mechanism is maintained in inoperative non-braking position Aby a yieldable member in the form of a spring 46 stationed close to bracket 44 and between the same and a collar 48 mounted upon rod 40. Spring 46 may be coiled about rod 40 or Vattached thereto in any operative fashion so long as it performs the function of yieldably maintaining the parts of the brake in that position illustrated in the drawing.

The modified showing of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 provides for a direct attachment between rod 40 and a different type of gripper 100. Transverse rod 102 in this instance need not be offset, the throw of gripper being provided for through the attachment of rod y40 to projection 104, integral with gripper 100. A pin 106 pivotally interconnects gripper 100 and rod 40.

The operation of a sled brake embodying the broad concepts of this invention has been made clear throughout the specification. v f

Having thus described the invention,

and engage Y what is claimed as new and desired to be covered by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a sled having a runner-supported bed and a longitudinally extending. neck forming a part of said bed, of braking apparatus comprising a transverse shaft; a plurality of gripper members on sai`d shaft; a connecting rod reciprocably mounted beneath said bed; and laterally extending operating handles joining said connecting rod beneath said neck said handles projecting horizontally to positions between said neck and runners.

2. The combination with a sled having a runner-supported bed anda longitudinally extending neck forming a part of said bed, of Vbraking apparatus comprising a transverse shaft; a plurality of gripper members on said shaft; a connecting rod reciprocably mounted beneath said bed; a laterally extending operating handle joining said connecting rod beneath said neck and projecting outwardly toward a runner on each side respectively of said neck, and means mounted beneath the said taining said grippers in the inoperative position. v

3. In combination with a sled having runners and an elevated platform, of braking apparatus comprising atransverse shaft adjacent one end ofv said platform; a gripper mounted on said shaft; a'pair oflaterallyextending operating handles adjacent the opposite end of `said platform; and a rod operatively connecting said shaft and handles disposed longitudinally of the platform therebeneath, said handles each being pivotallyV joined to said platform at independent, spaced apart points and joining the rod between said points.

4. In combination with a sled having runners and anelevated platform, of braking apparatus comprising a transverse shaft adjacent one end of said platform; grippers mounted on said shaft; a pair of laterally extending operating handles adjacent the opposite end of said platform; a rod connecting said shaft and handles beneath the platform; and means intermediate the shaft and handles to yieldably maintain said grippers in the inoperative position,

said pair of handles overlapping beneath the platform and joining the said rod at their overlapping portion.

5. In combination with a sled having runners and an elevated platform, of braking apparatus comprising a transverse shaft adjacent one end of said platform; grippers mounted on said shaft; a pair of laterally extending operating handles adjacent the opposite connecting said shaft and handles beneath the platform; means intermediate the shaft and handles to yieldably grippers in the inoperative position; and a bedY for yieldably mainioo end of said platform; a rod maintain said foot pedal at each end respectively of saidv shaft spaced outwardly from the side of said platform.

6. In a ners; an elevated platform between said runners; gripper members beneath said platform; and mean to move said grippers comprising a pair of oppositely directed handles, spaced apart pivotal points supporting said handles to said platform in overlapped relation in a'horizontal plane, a pivotal connection interconnecting the overlapped port-ions of said handles, and a bar interconnecting said last mentioned pivotal connection and the said grippers.

In testimony Whereoflwe hereunto aHiX our signatures.

4GrEORGrE W. JOHNSTON.

SAMUEL MUOHNIK.

sled, a pair of spaced apart run-A 

